D-Day: 70th Anniversary.

My Dad wasn’t there. He was in Burma, where he spent around 4 years. He spoke very little about his war experiences. I know he was at Dunkirk and had a lucky escape when the Lancastria was bombed. I also know that when war was declared he didn’t wait to be called up but volunteered straightaway.

He never expoused any political or religious views except to say that Fascism was wrong and to describe himself as a ‘humanist’.

He was ill for most of my childhood and died as I ended my stroppy teenage years. So I never got to have ‘grown-up’ talks with him. I think I’m ready for them now.

The Normandy Veterans Association are hanging up their colours and will disband in November. This blip is a tribute to them as much as it is to my Dad. He was a brave man. They all were.